Saturday, 20 December 2014

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #389 Save the Orangutan

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #389 Save the Orangutan

The orang-utan is a critically endangered species, with less
than 6,300 in existence. They live in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra,
where they have faced threats to their existence for decades. These threats mostly
come from humans, the main one being deforestation, which can be caused by
fire, but is mostly caused by logging. Timber is taken out and the forest
cleared, then the land is covered with plantations for the production of palm
oil. Mining also takes place along rivers of the rainforest where the large
mining operations destroy the habitat of the orang-utan. And sadly, although
illegal, orang-utans are popular as pets.

The reduced habitat of the orang-utans may be diminished
even further if plans to exploit natural resources go ahead, and this would
ensure the extinction of this endearing creature. To learn even more about this
important issue go to www.orangutan.org.au or
search ‘save the orangutans’ for other good sites trying to do something
positive.

We need to be aware of how our actions affect the planet and
all its creatures. 85% of the world’s palm oil production comes from Indonesia
and Malaysia. We use palm oil in everyday products such as: baby soap, baby
formula, wipes, cake mixes, biscuits, bread products, cakes, muffins, candles,
cereals, cheese, chocolate, cleaning products, cosmetics, dish washing liquid,
pastry, pizza, shampoo, toothpaste, snack bars, ice cream, soap, margarine,
noodles, lip balm, pet food, skin care, chips, snacks, peanut butter, and a
whole lot more! There is a lot of information at www.palmoilinvestigations.org where I found a list of products in my country that contain
palm oil. Flower #137 suggested avoiding palm oil. This would mean a huge
change in lifestyle and one few would take, but unless we do something about
changing the way we produce palm oil, and try to find a way to make it
sustainable without losing any more rainforest, and therefore orang-utan
habitat, then we can tell our children and grandchildren they can only look at
pictures of these red apes because they’re extinct.

Help save the orang-utans by pressuring manufacturers to
either not use palm oil in their products, or to at least grow sustainably.
Mandatory labelling of products with correct information must be introduced and
enforced so people can make considered choices. Speak up, phone or email
companies and ask them to do the best thing for the planet. Donate to
organizations on the ground helping to save the orang-utan and its habitat.
Volunteer if you can. All of these things will help.

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About Me

I am a writer, emerging artist, quiltmaker and public speaker. My current art installation is a work in progress, titled "1000 Flowers for the Planet". Every day, for 1000 days, I will blog one flower with a positive suggestion for how we can improve the planet - environmental, social, moral and ethical ideas. Please join me on this journey, send me your ideas for further suggestions and feel free to comment. If everyone took up only 1% of the ideas (i.e. 10 new actions), imagine the shift in the world!!
www.margaretrowe.com.au